This is the first time that they have competed in this event and the competitors and team manager Tim Richardson, who was celebrating his 58th birthday, were pleased with their performance against 62 other teams.

The fastest of their six was Rachel Phillips, who covered the second leg in 19 minutes 31 seconds. Her performance reflected all the hard work she had put in to her training during the winter months.

Phillips also produced an outstanding performance in the second of the two Reading AC club championships meeting at Palmer Park.

Having been with the club since under 15, she is now one of the many regular senior athletes under the guidance of Gerry Stevens and Geoff Biscoe.

She has always shown a lot of promise, but has now added confidence to her ability.

Phillips, with a storming last 300 metres, won the senior 1,500m title in 4 minutes 57.9 seconds, knocking 25 seconds off her previous best time.

Yonit Maroudas Sacks won the under-20 1,500m title with Julia Henderson taking the honours at under-17 level.

There were many exceptional performances during the day. Some came in the pole vault, where Alice Tomlin, returning to the club from university, won the senior title in 1.70m and Lucy Hillen the under-17 event.

Under-15 Amy Holder, in only her second competition event, cleared the bar at 2.20 metres to equal the club record.

Freya Tubb raced to the title in the under-13 75m and went on to complete a double in the long jump.

Julie Wilson won the senior discus and shot and there was also a double at under-17 level for Charlotte Webb in the shot and discus.